Power rushed down the paths in Eli's mind. He tried his best to separate the energy from the red areas, but the amount he received was far more than expected—and inevitably, some of it spilled.
Eli braced himself for pain.But pain wasn't what he got.
The energy along the red paths boiled, swelling outward from a single point. That reaction caused him to lose control of the rest of his energy, and more spilled across the red zones.
It triggered an avalanche—a boiling red sea that surged forward and rushed out, filling the glass bottle almost instantly.
Eli felt dazed.It wasn't painful—just different, as if he wasn't all there.Or maybe he was… but something else was too.
It took him a while to come back to himself.
The red paths, which had been slowly turning yellow before, were now fully crimson—and spreading.
They didn't spread far, but even so, the safe areas he needed to channel energy had shrunk.
What was this?
Controlling his energy had just gotten much harder.He didn't even want to know what would happen if the red areas consumed all his pathways.
He would need to be extra careful from now on.
Looking at the potion, he noticed it had leveled up—but the glass bottle had several cracks.
Item: Fox BloodLevel: 1Attributes: Life, FireDefense: 0.5 / 1Vitality: 40 / 45Strength: ½Description: The blood of a creature of great vitality.Synchronicity: 5%
There was a new stat listed.
Strength.
What does that even mean?
He didn't want to ponder it now. He was just relieved to see the Vitality stat still intact. That was what mattered. It would be perfect for a tree.
Eli was just about to pour the potion onto the stump when the item flickered again.
Item: Fox BloodLevel: 1Attributes: Life, FireDefense: 0.9 / 1Vitality: 41 / 45Strength: ½Description: The blood of a creature of great vitality.Synchronicity: 5%
Was it increasing? And so fast, too.
"I guess I could give it a little more time," Eli muttered, eyeing the bottle with curiosity.
A pencil scratched softly across paper.
"Since the unfortunate death of our teacher," a fire burned in a gold-brimmed fireplace, "our magic has stagnated."
Across the floor, a bear's head stretched into a wide, furry carpet.
"He was originally our only source of materials and knowledge of magic."
A pair of gold heels crossed above the carpet. In them sat a tall woman in a sleek black suit.
"Not to mention, he was so stingy with his connections and secrets. To this day, I've only learned two spells."
The hand paused, as if debating something. Then, after a moment's hesitation, the writer continued—this time with more confidence:
"One of them is telekinesis. The other… a more important spell. One I'd rather not share. You should already be aware of my terms."
She placed a hand on her chest, fingers playing with a golden bull skull necklace.
"I believe I've made a breakthrough in understanding our master's craft. And I have ideas—ways to further our understanding of this beautiful thing he called magic. I await your replies."
Speaking aloud, she added, "After all... you have no other choice, do you?"
She stood and walked to the fireplace. While slipping the note into an envelope, she muttered:
"Senile old man. Hhmm."
She threw the envelope into the unlit fireplace.Flames ignited instantly, swallowing the letter.
Back at the old tree stump, Eli slammed the potion down.
It didn't take long for the stats to finish filling—and yet, he was still upset.
Why did I have to wait that long… for a damn tree?That was his revenge.
The splash of blood spread over the stump.Glass shards flew in all directions, many of them clinging to the bark.
Was he supposed to wait again? Really? This thing wouldn't dare.
Eli sighed and closed his eyes for just a second. He was getting worked up.He needed to calm down.His parents would be fine.He would be fine.
When he opened his eyes—expecting to see the stump—he found himself looking at the main road.
"AHH, what?!"
Back at the tree, steam rose where the blood had touched. It seeped into the wood.
Now walking along the roadside in his hospital gown, occasionally kicking a stone, Eli thought about his mother.
"She must be worried sick.
Wait… should I go home first?
Oh. Wait, no—the house did get blown up.
I should go to the loft.
Though I never really liked that place.
So... hospital it is, then."
Footsteps tore through the forest, crushing leaves underfoot.
The person running wore a red jacket, jeans, and—well, dirt, if that counted as clothing.
Seeing a light, he sprinted toward it—not realizing how fast he was going.
Bursting through the treeline, he spun around, eyes wide with panic at whatever he thought was following him.
Behind Eli, headlights crept around a bend in the road.
Good.
A ride was coming.
Unless it was a serial killer. With Eli's luck? Who knew.
He raised a hand to flag the car—then froze.
A boy burst from the trees across the road.
He ran straight into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
"What the hell? Is he trying to off himself?" Eli thought, stunned.
The boy's eyes stayed locked on the forest—he didn't even see the car.
Eli felt the panic before the boy did.
Then, at the last second, the boy's head snapped toward the headlights.
Too late.
The driver hadn't seen him in time.The road was narrow. The car was fast.
Eli ran.
Acting without thinking.
He crashed into the boy, shoving him out of the way as a scream erupted from the car.
A pale blue light surged across Eli's body—the Focus Marble reacting, instinctively.
BANG.
The car skidded to a stop.
Eli flew.
He hit the road hard and rolled, groaning.He wasn't badly injured, but everything hurt.
The car doors slammed open.
Victoria jumped out, shouting something—but he couldn't quite make it out.She was followed by a younger girl.
Eli could barely hear them.
Their voices were muffled—as if he were underwater.
He lifted one hand.
"Can you shut up and help me get up?" he croaked.
He kind of hoped he had another bottle.Sure, the glass might cut her—but it would heal her after.
Victoria fell silent.
The younger girl looked half-worried, half-amused. If not for the concern in her eyes, she might've smiled.
Eli stared up at them, dazed.
Just when he thought the older woman was going to finish the job, the girl stepped forward.
"Mom, come on! Hurry. Get his other side—we need to get him to the hospital."
It took some work, but they got him in the car.
Slam.The doors shut.The car peeled away.
Then, from the roadside grass, a figure rose.
Scott.
He winced, touching his head. His fingers came away sticky with blood.
Where… what just happened?
There had been a car, right?
Now the road was empty.
His mind froze.
He remembered something… something in the forest.
Something strange.
He turned toward the trees, half-expecting something to leap out and bite his face off right then and there.
Thankfully, there was nothing.
He stood slowly, backed away from the forest—then broke into a full sprint.
He needed to get to the safety of his house.
No matter how untrue that statement really was.